Talbot Road

Work has continued on Talbot Road in adding more of the Wand Orcas. On the inbound side, Wand Orcas have been added before and after the Great Stone Road junction.

On the approach to Great Stone Road the Wand Orcas stop a fair distance from the junction. This is due to space restrictions at the junction, meaning the mandatory cycle lane gives way to a narrow advisory lane.

To solve this, the junction needs realignment to free up additional space for a wider cycle lane. This is bigger than the scope of the Stretford Cycleway, so it hasn’t happened. Hopefully, this will be rectified as some point in the future.

The final Wand Orca where the mandatory lane changes to a narrow advisory lane

The installation of Wand Orcas beyond Great Stone Road, though there’s a large gap for the bus stop. As I’ve said before, these will no doubt attract waiting car, forcing bikes around them and into traffic. We really need bus stop bypasses along Talbot Road to solve this.

A large gap in the Wand Orcas for the bus stop

Carrying on further, it appears some work is being carried out to address issues in the surface, while wand Orcas are being installed. I’m guessing this might be due to issues in being found in the resurfacing.

Resurfacing work being carried out around the installation of Wand Orcas

The Wand Orcas carry on beyond Warwick Road. It’s quite common to see parking vehicles blocking the cycle lane here, usually taxis and Royal Mail vans. There wasn’t anything blocking the cycleway now. Hopefully this is a sign that the Wand Orcas are working.

Wand Orcas continuing past Warwick Road

The Wand Orcas continue as close as they can to the White City Way junction. Unfortunately though, it’s not far enough. While I was riding along, a left-turning car pulled across the cycle lane without looking.

Left-turning vehicles still a problem at White City Way

There’s no change to the inbound section of Talbot Road beyond White City Way, due to the space limitations. Though this is due to see improvement as the first of the Trafford Beelines schemes.

The key issue here is the amount of right-turning vehicles onto Seymour Grove. This backs up to before White City Way and means the vehicles carrying on ahead onto Chester Road are blocked. Many drivers choose to drive into the Mandatory cycle lane to bypass the queue.

A car driving into the mandatory cycle lane to bypass the right-turning vehicles

Progress on the outbound side isn’t as advanced as the inbound side. Though Wand Orcas have started going in on the approach to White City Way and are working quite well.

Wand Orcas on the inbound side before White City Way

The Wand Orcas continue beyond White City Way and are doing a good job of protecting the cycleway. I saw some overtaking at this point, which was possible while remaining in the cycleway.

Work further down Talbot Road isn’t as advanced. Though as you approach Chester Road, there’s a large section that’s been resurfaced. On the whole, this has been done to a much higher standard than the rest.

Resurfacing near Chester Road that’s been done to a much higher standard

I’ve not seen it myself, but I’ve been informed that the problems with standing water on Talbot Road hasn’t been resolved as part of the resurfacing work that’s been carried out there. This is really disappointing, as the surface water is a real issue when it rains. Again, this is something I’ve raised previously. It really should have been sorted out.

Stretford Road

On Stretford Road, we’ve seen the addition of green paint at various points. The first section of green paint is around the first of the bus stop bypasses.

This is one of the lower quality bus stop bypasses, which is just a lane painted around the back of the bus stop. The green paint does help to highlight the cycleway, which helps. Though I’d prefer to have seen sloping kerbs here and a different level for the cycleway.

I’m also not sure why the angles have to be so sharp here. There’s plenty of space here, so they could have gone for much more forgiving angles.

Green paint helps to highlight the cycleway at the first bus stop bypass

Carrying on, there’s more green paint across the side junctions, to highlight the presence of the cycleway to vehicles turning onto Stretford Road.

More green paint across the side junctions

Further on, it’s good to see people have got the hang of the new parking bays, meaning the completed sections were free of cars. This is good news, though I still have concerns about the sections without Wand Orcas.

Cars parking correctly in the parking bays

There’s a section before then next bus stop bypass that’s waiting for realignment of the parking bays. I’m not sure why this hasn’t been started, though I’m guessing it might be something to do with space issues and work on the outbound side.

Here, you get an appreciation of what a difference the new cycleway makes. Gone are those awful narrow door-zone cycle lanes.

Remnants of the old door-zone cycle lanes

Carrying on further, there’s more paint going down and Wand Orcas going in. This seems to be progressing well. Again, I think some of the angles could have been more forgiving here.

More green paint and Wand Orcas going in

The work on the outbound side is further behind, with resurfacing work being carried out as well as realignment of the bus stops. So there’s not much to see right now.

While it was hoped that the installation of the Wand Orcas would see the end of motor vehicles parking the cycleway, it’s not taken long for us to see the first instance of someone doing so. In this case, a Bargain Booze lorry delivering to the Select Convenience shop on Stretford Road, parking on top of the Wand Orcas.

I was fully expecting this to happen, but I thought we might at least get the cycleway complete before happened. In this instance, it appears the Wand Orca is still in place, though I don’t know if it’s been damaged. Though irrespective of the potential damage, it meant the cycleway was blocked while the lorry was unloaded.

This had done little to allay my concerns that sections of the cycleway near the shops will end up being regularly blocked by motor vehicles, whether it’s loading or people just popping in the shop. Either way, it amounts to the same thing, a blocked cycleway.

5 thoughts on “Progress on the Stretford Cycleway – Mid September 2018”

I’ve done an overtake on Stretford Road but personally thought it too tight a squeeze and resorted to exiting the cycle path briefly. If the path had been six inches wider, not full of debris in the gutter I would have been more comfortable requesting to overtake within the lane.

I am also concerned about the cycle lanes now filling with debris – how will a sweeper get in amongst the wand orcas?

I’ve also spotted a car parked right in front of the entrance to the cycle lane outside Trafford College, following the traffic lights. It was right up against one of the wand orcas, hence completely blocking the entrance.